Kerry Fine Gael TD and Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin, has been told by Kerry County Council that it is to consider a 4-Way Stop system at Ballyfinnane Crossroads as part of a possible application to the Department of Transport to try to prevent collisions at the dangerous junction in the future.
In the past few years, there have been numerous accidents at this location, despite Kerry County Council having put in place various safety measures, including additional signage and road markings.
Minister Griffin says that the situation needs to be looked at again by council engineers to see what more can be done to help prevent future collisions. He has suggested a 4-Way Stop system as a possible option to substantially reduce the risk of collision.
2018 Improvement Works Grant
Kerry County Council Senior Engineer, Padraic Teahan, has now told Minister Griffin that the crossroads will be considered for submission to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport for funding under the 2018 Safety Improvement Works Grant.
It is anticipated that the department will be seeking proposals from local authorities for the 2018 scheme shortly.
The council will be examining all of the safety engineering options available in respect of the crossroads, including Minister Griffin’s long-standing proposal for a 4-Way stop.
In the interim the lining at the junction has just been renewed following surface dressing works.
Residents Raise Concerns
“Residents regularly raise concerns about safety at Ballyfinnane Cross with me,” said Minister Griffin.
This is an issue that I have been highlighting for many years, with some measures being carried out in recent years by Kerry County Council following my work.
“I have previously called on KCC to consider putting in place a 4-Way Stop system, akin to a similarly dangerous junction that I visited last year at Milemill, Co. Kildare – see accompanying photographs. Ballyfinnane Crossroads is currently a 2-Way Stop junction.
A Very Similar Scenario
“Milemill Crossroads used to be a very similar scenario and I visited the junction to see the new system working at first hand. According to local information, the new 4-Way Stop system has proven a great success and has slowed traffic and significantly reduced the risk of high speed collisions.
“This could easily be replicated at Ballyfinnane. I am glad that Kerry County Council will now seriously consider this safety measure at Ballyfinnane Crossroads, as part of a possible application for inclusion in the 2018 Safety Improvement Works Grant Scheme.
“I am concerned that another accident may occur there and that somebody could be badly hurt or even worse. Perhaps even more signage and road markings and other high visibility measures could also be considered,” Minister Griffin concluded.
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